Bulgaria hosted an international ministerial conference on Corridor VIII in Sofia on 8 October, bringing together representatives from Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Albania to discuss accelerating the road and rail route between the Adriatic and Black seas. [1] [2]
Bulgarian officials said the most difficult element remains the cross-border rail tunnel with North Macedonia and cited a planning framework running to 2034. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said the EU was supporting Corridor VIII work in North Macedonia and Albania with €319 million. [1]
ContextThe next ministerial meeting is due in Skopje. The conference established political commitments and financing context, but the cited reports did not announce completion dates for every section or a newly signed construction contract. [1]